STATUS OF BEAR WELFARE at Chief Saunooke Bear Park, Cherokee Bear Zoo, and Santa’s Land, in Cherokee, North Carolina Status of Bear Welfare in Cherokee, North Carolina AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF CHIEF SAUNOOKE BEAR PARK, CHEROKEE BEAR ZOO, AND SANTA’S LAND | 2 Status of Bear Welfare in Cherokee, North Carolina TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION....................6 Author Biographies...................................................................................................................... 6 Rob Laidlaw ............................................................................................................................ 6 Lydia Lefebvre ........................................................................................................................ 6 Else Poulsen ........................................................................................................................... 6 Dr. Debi Zimmerman............................................................................................................... 7 How Modern Zoos Care for Bears .............................................................................................. 7 Bear Species Discussed in This Report ................................................................................. 8 What Bears Expect ................................................................................................................. 8 Behavior-Based Bear Husbandry ........................................................................................... 8 Daily Routines......................................................................................................................... 9 Seasonal Routines................................................................................................................ 11 DEFICIENCY REPORT..............15 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 15 Chief Saunooke Bear Park ................................................................................................... 16 Cherokee Bear Zoo...............................................................................................................16 Santa’s Land ......................................................................................................................... 16 Enclosure Design ...................................................................................................................... 17 Lack of Space ....................................................................................................................... 17 Lack of Privacy...................................................................................................................... 17 Pits (Chief Saunooke Bear Park and Cherokee Bear Zoo) .................................................. 18 Cages (Santa’s Land) ........................................................................................................... 20 AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF CHIEF SAUNOOKE BEAR PARK, CHEROKEE BEAR ZOO, AND SANTA’S LAND | 3 Status of Bear Welfare in Cherokee, North Carolina Lack of Protection From Sunlight and Inclement Weather ................................................... 20 Inadequate Drainage ............................................................................................................ 22 Concrete................................................................................................................................ 22 Absence of Essential Environmental Enrichment ..................................................................... 23 Behavioral Stress ...................................................................................................................... 24 Improper Diet............................................................................................................................. 25 Uncontrolled Public Feeding .....................................................................................................27 Daily Husbandry........................................................................................................................ 28 Seasonal Husbandry................................................................................................................. 28 Chief Saunooke Bear Park ................................................................................................... 29 Cherokee Bear Zoo...............................................................................................................29 Santa’s Land ......................................................................................................................... 29 VETERINARY CARE................30 Concrete and Related Physical Trauma ................................................................................... 30 Feet....................................................................................................................................... 31 Footpads ............................................................................................................................... 31 Claws .................................................................................................................................... 32 Osteoarthritis......................................................................................................................... 32 Obesity, Poor Muscle Tone, and Nutritional Concerns......................................................... 32 Chronic Pain: Neck, Back, and Shoulders ................................................................................ 33 Dental Problems........................................................................................................................ 33 Reproductive Stress.................................................................................................................. 35 Parasites ................................................................................................................................... 35 Skin Conditions ......................................................................................................................... 35 AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF CHIEF SAUNOOKE BEAR PARK, CHEROKEE BEAR ZOO, AND SANTA’S LAND | 4 Status of Bear Welfare in Cherokee, North Carolina ANALYSIS OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT.............36 RECOMMENDATIONS................41 PHOTOS.........................42 REFERENCES.....................62 Investigators/Authors: Rob Laidlaw, Lydia Lefebvre, Else Poulsen, And Debi Zimmermann Date of Report: April 2010 Edited by: Debbie Leahy, Director Captive Animals Rescue and Enforcement People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF CHIEF SAUNOOKE BEAR PARK, CHEROKEE BEAR ZOO, AND SANTA’S LAND | 5 Status of Bear Welfare in Cherokee, North Carolina INTRODUCTION On Sunday, October 25, 2009, four expert investigators—Rob Laidlaw, Lydia Lefebvre, Else Poulsen, and Debi Zimmermann—were invited by PETA to visit Chief Saunooke Bear Park (CSBP), Cherokee Bear Zoo (CBZ), and Santa’s Land (SL) in the Great Smoky Mountains of Cherokee, North Carolina. The parameters of each facility as they relate to the bears’ husbandry needs were inspected, including daily and seasonal husbandry, enclosure design, environmental enrichment programming, diet, and veterinary care. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES Rob Laidlaw Rob Laidlaw is a chartered biologist who has been involved in captive wildlife welfare issues for the past 25 years, including the assessment of captive wild animal housing and husbandry. During that time, Laidlaw has reviewed and/or visited approximately 1,000 zoos and captive wildlife facilities around the world. A portion of his work has involved reviewing and assessing the conditions in which bears are kept in captivity. Laidlaw is the founder and executive director of Zoocheck Canada, a national wildlife protection charity, established in Toronto, Canada, in 1984 and has served as project manager and technical advisor for the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Lydia Lefebvre Lydia Lefebvre grew up living and working around wildlife in northern Ontario and obtained her early knowledge of wildlife and bears by working in forests and remote locations. Her career in the fields of natural resources and environmental consulting expanded to wildlife fieldwork and led her to become a zookeeper charged with the care of bears. As a zookeeper in Ontario, she learned modern husbandry methods and environmental enrichment programming. Lefebvre has improved the lives of bears in captivity by observing and interpreting bear behavior in order to determine the animals’ needs. She has also trained bears through the exclusive use of positive training methods in order to aid in the monitoring of their health and veterinary care. She has worked for years as a volunteer and sometimes as a board member with organizations such as the Alliston & District Humane Society, the Northern Ontario Animal Welfare Society, and Zoocheck Canada. As a consultant, Lefebvre has evaluated and commented on facilities and enclosures holding native and exotic species. She has completed two degrees in parks and forest recreation and ecotourism management and is currently pursuing a degree in science and animal behavior at the University of Western Ontario. Else Poulsen Else Poulsen began her career in animal behavior in the early 1980s working as a field